Greg Bird : biography

2 October 1984 -

Greg Bird (born 2 October 1984) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks of the National Rugby League and the Catalans Dragons of Super League. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative, Bird primarily plays lock, second-row and five-eighth.

Representative career

In 2001, while playing for Rutherford Technology High School, Bird was selected for the Australian Schoolboys team team and captained the side.

In May 2007, Bird was selected for the Country Origin team in the annual City vs Country Origin match.

In June 2007, Bird was selected for New South Wales to play Queensland in Game 2 of the 2007 State of Origin series. His performance earned him a recall for game 3, this time at five-eighth. He was awarded the Man of the Match award.

In September 2007, Bird was selected for the Prime Minister's XIII team to play Papua New Guinea.

In October 2007, Bird was selected for Australia to play New Zealand in the one-off Test match in Wellington, New Zealand. He scored a try on debut and was named the Player's Player.

In May 2008, Bird was selected for Australia in 2008 Centenary Test, retaining his five-eighth jersey in place of the injured Darren Lockyer.

In May 2008, Bird was selected for Game 1 of the 2008 State of Origin series for New South Wales, controversially chosen again in the five-eighth position. He was named Man of the Match and was again selected in Game 2.

In August 2008, Bird was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. However he didn't play a game.

In February 2010, Bird was voted in by the fans for the Indigenous All Stars team to play the NRL All Stars in the inaugural All Stars Match.

In May 2010, Bird was again selected for the Country Origin team in the annual City vs Country Origin match.

In July 2010, Bird was selected for Game 3 of the 2010 State of Origin series for New South Wales. He scored a try.

In November 2010, Bird played 2 matches for Australia in their 2010 Four Nations campaign.

In February 2011, Bird was again voted in by the fans for the Indigenous All Stars team to play the NRL All Stars in the annual All Stars Match.

In 2011, Bird was selected for New South Wales in all 3 games of the 2011 State of Origin series.

In September 2011, Bird was again selected for the Prime Minister's XIII team to play Papua New Guinea.

In February 2012, Bird was again voted in by the fans for the Indigenous All Stars team to play the NRL All Stars in the annual All Stars Match.

In April 2012, Bird was again selected for the Country Origin team in the annual City vs Country Origin match.

In 2012, Bird was selected for New South Wales in all 3 games of the 2012 State of Origin series.

Personal life

Bird is of Indigenous Australian heritage.

In 2006, Bird posed for the Naked Rugby League 2007-08 charity calendar, which was produced to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia.

In March 2006, Bird was alleged to have sent model Lara Bingle inappropriate text messages, although Bird denied this, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks spokesman Rob Willis said "Greg's thrown up his hands. He says he's done nothing inappropriate. There's been nothing obscene written. There's been no harassment."

On 25 August 2008, Bird appeared in Sutherland Local Court charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on his 24-year old American girlfriend Katie Milligan at his flat in Cronulla. It was alleged that he had smashed a glass into her face. It was reported that she underwent surgery for a fractured eye socket and facial injuries. Bird was granted bail. The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks chief executive, Tony Zappia, advised Bird would be stood down from the playing roster pending further investigations. Milligan had moved to Sydney to be with Bird earlier in the month, having met him in Las Vegas while he was on holiday there earlier in the year. In September 2008, Bird's legal representative was advised that Bird would be facing additional charges of public mischief and false accusation.